Vented nipple



April l5, 1941. c. J. scHMID VENTED NIPPLE Filed April 30, 1938 Elma/who@ CARL J. SC/M/D a nipple showing a modiiied type of spacing strip;

Patented Apr. 1 5, 1941 vUNITED STATES n ww PATENT y OFFICE zaaaszs i vENm NIPPLE Carl J. Schmid, New York, N. Y., allignor to .lulius Schmid, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appuuon'apru so, 193s, serial No.' '205,313 y 3Claims.

. duction of a simple and efficient nipple having special air entrance openings formed adjacent 10 the air vent passages, wherein the air enters the passages through the side walls and then passes along the passages into the bottle upon which the nipple is placed for facilitating the venting of the bottle and nipple when assembled.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear'throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in 20 section of the nipple showing the spacing strip mounted upon the inner face of the nipple;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the nipple taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of the nipple and bottle neck showing the nipple mounted thereon; 4

Figure 5 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the spacing strip applied to a modified type of nipple known as the Black Band type:

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional v line 0 6 of Figure 5; y

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken online 1--1 of Figure 6; y

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through iew taken on I Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view through a nipple showing a spacing strip of a still vfurther modiiled design.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen Athat I0 designates a conventional type of nipple,` upon the inner face of which is secured or. formed a fiat spacing strip VII, which strip II extends vertically of the nipple or longitudinally thereof to a point adjacent the neck portion I2 of the nipple and terminates short of the lower edge I3 of the nipple. This strip II is provided with irregularly shaped sideedges I5 upon its opposite sides preferably in the form of a saw-tooth structure, such as is illustrated in Figure 1, to provide an irregularly shaped zig-zag passage upon either macv of Athe strip n when the nipple is Apaced 5.-,

(Cl. 12s-252) upon a bottle in a manner as is shown in Figure 4 to provide venting passages upon either side of the strip II between the elastic nipple Ill and the bottle I8. The end I'l of the strip Il terminates short `of the lower edge I3 of the nipple I 0, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 4, so that the nipple l0 may grip the neck of. the bottle I8 around the lower edge of the nipple and completely seal the nipple around its lower edge.

Perforated vents III in the nature of puncturedv apertures are formed through the wall of the nipple, as is shown in the drawing' in close proxv imity to the irregularly shaped sides I5 of the stripll to provide air entrance openings through the side wall ot the nipplev in communication with the channels formed upon either side of the strip II when the nipple is placed upon a bottle in the manner as shown in Figure 4.

'I'he inherent characteristics of the elastic nipple will cause the elastic nipple to adhere closely-to the ilat spacing strip II and follow closely the contour and path of the irregularly shaped side edges, In' this way, a comparatively long circuitous passage is provided whereby the elastic nipple will follow closely the tooth-like edge formation of the strip throughout a major portion of its length and will adhere very closely to the strip, particularly at the pointed prong-like lprojections at the side ofthe strip. Because of the elastic characteristics of the nipple the circuitous air passage will be substantially closed adjacent the pointed prong-like projections of the tooth-like edge or the size of the passage will be reduced to a minimum, thereby providv ing a valve-like medium or a plurality of spaced minute valves throughout the length and upon either side of the strip II. The elastic nipple will stretch away from the edges of the strip when a suction is created within the nipple, and as a volume of air is drawn through the circuitous passage, thereby enlarging the valve-like l portions adjacent the tapering points of the sawtooth edge andthe elastic nipple will automatically retract to substantially close the circuitous j .passage at these points when suction within the l conform-.tov the contour of anyprotr'uding parts located between the nipple and the bottle neck.

Because of this fact the valve-like action is'provided by applicants device and in fact, a plurality of spaced minute valves are provided, one

adjacent each ot the projecting prongs of the saw-tooth edges of the strip Il.

'I'he strip H may be of various forms or designs, and may be applied to various types of nipples. Different types of designs are illustrated-in Figures 8 and 9, as are indicated bythe numerals i9 and 20, respectively, and the irregularly shaped/ side edges may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. The spacing strip may be applied to either the dipped form of nipple, or to any type such for instance as the Black Band nipplel shown in Figures to 7, wherein the spacing strip is indicated'by the numeral 2I and the side wall venting apertures are indicated by the numeral 22.

C .tain detail changes maybe employedwithout departing from the spirit of this invention as long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

' Having described the invention what I claim is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an elastic nipple having a strip formed and xed in position upon its inner face and adapted to contact with Athe neck of a bottle for slightly spacing the nipple from the neck of `a bottle, the strip having irregularly-shaped side edges `to provide circuitous air passages upon either side ofthe strip between the elastic nipple and the neck of a bottle, said irregularly-shaped side .edges comprising protruding portions and receding portions, the elastic nipple in conjunction with the protruding portions constituting a plurality or valve-like means within the length of the strip to check the outow of liquid through the air passages when suction within the nipple is discontinued, the elastic nipple comprising a thin-walled body and a thickened lower bead portion, and said thin-walled body having air vent apertures formed therein in close proximity vwith the edges of said strip and connecting with the air vent passages adjacent the side edges of the strip. Y

- 2. As an article of manufacture, an elastic nipple, a spacing strip fixed in a set position upon the inner face of the nippley and being adapted to define vent passages between the elastic nipple and the neck of a bottle over whichthe nipple is placed and upon either side oi the strip, said elastic nipple having an air vent apenture formed v through the wall of the nipple in close proximity to the edge of the spacing strip to provide an air entrance port, the elastic characteristics of the nipple causing t e air vent aperture to normally remain substantia ly closed, suction upon the nipple being adapted to expand the aperture to admit air into the passages and into the nipple, the

- aperture being adapted to automatically substantially close when suction within the nipple is discontinued thereby providing an automatic air entrance valve for the vent passages.

3. As anarticle of manufacture, an elastic nipple, a spacing strip xed to the inner face of the nipple and being adapted to denne vent passages between the velastic nipple and the neck Vof a bottle over which the nipple is placed and upon either side of the strip, said elasticnipple havingv a punched air vent aperture formed through the wall of the nipple in close proximity to the edge ofthe spacing strip to provide an air entrance port for the air vent passages, the elastic characteristics of the nipple causing the punctured air vent aperture to normally remain substantially closed, the close. proximity o! the punched air vent aperture with respect to the spacing strip oausingsuctionkupon the nipple to expand the aperture to admit air into the passages and. into the nipple, the aperture being adapted to automatically substantially close when suction within the nipple is discontinued thereby providing an automatic air entrance valve for the vent passages, said strip having irregularly shaped side edges, and the elastic nipple being adapted to follow closely the contour of the edges to provide circuitous air vent passages.

- CARL J. SCHMID. 

